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A group of 23 students from Framingham State University spent spring break forging lasting friendships and aiding victims in tornado-ravaged Joplin, MO, as part of the Alternative Spring Break Program.
The students raised around $25,000 to cover travel and lodging expenses for the week-long trip. They teamed with Project195 on the effort, an action-based charity and relief organization. Student Team Leaders Kendra Sampson ’12, Molly Goguen ‘13, and Krista Landry ‘12 described the experience as transformative.
“It’s an incredible feeling to be able to help someone that’s really in need,” Landry says. “A lot of the students on the trip didn’t know each other when we left and were pretty timid at first, but we returned feeling like one big family.”
A massive tornado struck Joplin on May 22, 2011, killing 160 people and causing an estimated $3 billion in damage. Students spent the week renovating the home of one family. Work included clearing debris from the yard, creating a garden, repairing much of the inside of the home, and scraping, sanding and painting the exterior of the home.
“The homeowner was incredibly thankful,” Sampson says. “She would come out and talk with us each day and let us know how much it meant to her.”
This was the fourth year Framingham State has helped students organize a trip through Alternative Spring Break, according to Club Coordinator Angel Seto. Previous trips have been made to Washington D.C. and New Orleans.
“The program has really grown since its inception here,” Seto says. “This year we had 40 applications for 20 open spots. A lot of people are getting involved with it.”
Goguen says this year’s group of students was really moved by the trip.
“It was an amazing experience for everyone,” she says.
Each of the students who participated in Alternative Spring Break shared their experiences at http://fsualternativespringbreak.blogspot.com/.
